Reposting this entry as the earlier link to IPS was faulty.
Kuala Terengganu was a trip down memory lane for me. The good news is that I found the old terrace house we used to rent along Jalan Cerong Lanjut when I was 7-8 years. It was still intact and looked more or less the same.
But it was bad news for Najib, on the cusp of becoming premier. For him, the by-election there must have been a nightmare, a major blow. The good Johan Saravanamuttu, a political scientist (and singer-guitarist for the Aliran Singers!), shares his thoughts over Bloomberg here.
POLITICS-MALAYSIA: By-Poll Debacle May Hit Reforms
By Anil Netto
PENANG, Jan 22 (IPS) – A key parliamentary by-election on Saturday that fell to a resurgent opposition alliance has piled pressure on Malaysia’s prime minister-to-be, Najib Razak.
At issue now is whether the ruling Barisan Nasional (National Front or BN) coalition he leads is capable of pushing through reforms which many believe are vital for the long-term prospects of the coalition.
Najib, who spearheaded the BN’s campaign in Kuala Terengganu, capital of the oil-rich east coast state of Terengganu, was unable to stop a swing to the People’s Alliance, made up of the three main opposition parties.
Full article here.
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Najib tried to play down the magnitude of the loss by describing it as a “minor setback”. It’s more like a MAJOR SLAP right in the face of the incoming PM.
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Major blow or not, Najib will become PM in March. As it is Pak Lah has taken the back seat for some time now, with major announcements and statements coming from Najib.
Expects things to become worst before they get better.
Najib is becoming PM at the wrong time. The economic situation is really bad and is going to become worst. All of this will be on his hand.
Pak Lah will retire in peace and will be having him self a chuckle listening to all the criticism that Najib is going to get..
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another good article…
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/KA23Ae01.html
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well, first of all i feel, towards equality, Malaysia must phase out things like the NEP and 30 percent bumi equity concept and bumiputra status in time to come because all this policies did not benefit all Malaysians but had, now and will always (UMNO motto) benefit all the cronies at the top. Its time for all to be treated fairly and equally at all levels, regardless of economic differences. Economic policies to help a certain race or class in society is needed though but only for the poor people. This is what Malaysia has been doing along, yet, the poor are not improving, Why? Because all this economic policies were raped by people at high levels, high ranks, people with so called cables, networks and connections. We must all uphold the Constitution of Malaysia and start conducting lessons for all Malaysian elected leaders I believe, to teach them about the Constitution of Malaysia because many of them have forgetten it or either pretended to forget it in the pursuit of self-interest. Even the Special Rights accorded to the official race and religion of Malaysia should be explained at all levels so that it is not abused.
HIDUP RAKYAT!
Regards,
D.S.GILL
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Found some wonderful cartoons on KT. Unable to reproduce it here because of copyright but you could visit the site.
http://malaysiancartoons.blogspot.com/
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Dear Anil
I am glad to note that the BN Administration has lost the
TRENGGANU bye-election as well as the Permatang Pau. This
is a clear indication that the end is near. Because the BN
cannot hoodwink the RAKYAT forever; they are awake now.
The BN is not doing right things; they still think that the
RAKYAT are stupid – yes may be a certain portion of them but
not all. They say one thing and do another.
According to the available records so far, more than 100
Malaysian Indian Youths have died in pOLICE Custody (Police Stations) What has the BN Administration done – nothing.
They will pay for all this in the next general election.
I wrote to you before that there is a LEGAL ARTICLE IN THE
MALAYSIAN LAW JOURNAL WHERE a leading lawyer has given a
list of Malaysian Indians died at the hands of the Police.
What the Council is doing – they are PALLING AROUND with
Abdullah for Datoship.
Between 1950 – 175 – the Bar Commanded respect of the
government under the YTM Tunku. The government referred
all the proposed bills in parliament for the views and
comments of the BAR COUNCIL – now no more. Bills are
introduced and passed in two days. This tend is very dangerous.
The Bar Council needs gets
But I doubt is whether the OPPOSITION is ready to take over
the reins. They are not united yet; Now itself they must
form a Alternative Government and announce it, in case the BN
falls. Don’t worry – BN the end is very soon.
I hope Najib and others in the BN learn from OBAMA.
Malaysia had not problem at all with the first three Prime Ministers
who were all legally trained and they knew the RULE OF LAW and
the current politicians in the UMNO as well as Coalition – they
do not know the RULE OF LAW which binds them and the RAKYAT.
Anyway it is too late now and wait for the day when the BN will
collapse. Long Live RAKYAT.
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